Navy defensive captain Daniel Gonzales figured Connecticut would be able to run at least two plays in the span of 17 seconds. The Huskies wound up only getting off one and that proved decisive.

Nose guard Patrick Forrestal and defensive end Amos Mason led the charge as the Midshipmen stuffed tailback Ron Johnson for no gain at the 1-yard line and the Huskies could not line up to run a final play, allowing the home team to escape with a heart-stopping 28-24 win on Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Navy had capitalized on a clutch punt by Erik Harris to score the go-ahead touchdown before coming up with the huge defensive stand that sent an announced crowd of 35,501 home happy.

Quarterback Will Worth scored on a 1-yard plunge with 3:08 remaining and the Mids dug deep after the Huskies drove to within a yard of a big come-from-behind victory.

“I’m super proud of our kids. That goal-line stand symbolizes who we are. Our kids fought to the end and just refused to let them score,” Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “I didn’t see the play. I had closed my eyes and was praying. I looked up and our guys were cheering.”

Bill Wagner and Dave Broughton discuss Saturday's home game against UConn.

Bill Wagner and Dave Broughton discuss Saturday's home game against UConn.

Gonzales said defensive coordinator Dale Pehrson called for a “rocket” blitz that involves both inside linebackers. Gonzales said he plugged the A gap while running mate Micah Thomas filled the B gap. Johnson ran into a wall of defenders led by the 305-pound Forrestal and Mason wrapped up the runner.

The Huskies had called their final timeout with 17 seconds remaining and could only watch helplessly as the Midshipmen laid on top of Johnson to prevent him from getting up.

“We practice that,” Gonzales said. “In that game situation with time running down, you lay on the guy until the ref pulls you off.”

Connecticut coach Bob Diaco was not pleased the officials did not stop the clock.

“How does 17 seconds run off the clock? We called two plays, but they did not let everyone get up from the ground, which kudos to them (Midshipmen),” Diaco said. “I am not complaining or making excuses. I take full accountability.”

Things looked bleak for Navy when it was forced to punt while trailing by three points late in the fourth quarter. However, Harris came through with a 63-yard punt that rolled dead at the 5-yard line. Harris, the backup, had earlier come off the bench and booted a high punt that was downed at the 9-yard line.

“I thought Erik Harris’ punts, especially that last one that pinned them down, were huge,” Niumatalolo said.

Navy’s defense forced a three-and-out and Connecticut had to punt from its own end zone. Thomas threw Johnson for a 2-yard loss on first down while outside linebacker Josiah Powell stopped the tailback for a 1-yard gain on third-and-7.

“That was a huge stop. We knew we had to stop them there,” Niumatalolo said. “We could not allow them to get a first down, we had to get them to punt into the wind.”

Justin Wain’s high punt into the stiff breeze only traveled 34 yards and Navy’s Calvin Cass Jr. returned it 26 yards. That set up the Midshipmen at the enemy 17-yard line and they capitalized on the terrific field position.

Worth, making his first career start in place of the injured Tago Smith, pitched to slotback Dishan Romine for a 6-yard gain than rumbled 9 yards on a keeper to set up the go-ahead score.

“Our guys found a way to dig down deep,” Niumatalolo said. “I can’t really tell you what the offensive coaches said. They just encouraged our guys to suck it up. Guys were cramping, but they just fought through.”

Worth ran the triple-option offense expertly in the first half as Navy amassed 245 total yards. Connecticut stepped it up defensively and the Mids hurt themselves with some mistakes in managing only 109 yards in the second half.

Worth completed 6 of 8 passes for 130 yards, but ran for just 44 yards on 19 carries (2.3 average). “I thought Will, for his first outing, did a lot of good things. I’m proud of him,” Niumatalolo said.

Navy (2-0), which has now won 12 straight home games, gained 235 yards on the ground with slotback Dishan Romine leading the way with 76. Fullback Chris High, who had 176 yards on 10 carries in the opener, was limited to 36 yards on seven attempts by a hard-hitting Connecticut defense. It was the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

Navy left a lot of points on the table as Worth was stuffed on fourth down at the 1-yard line, High fumbled at the 6-yard line and kicker Bennett Moehring had a field goal attempt blocked.

“We pride ourselves on taking care of the ball, and obviously that fumble killed us. We weren’t real efficient in the red zone so we need to make sure we improve on that. We still need to do a better job defensively on third down,” Niumatalolo said. “All that being said, we still won the game.”

Quarterback Bryant Shirreffs completed 23 of 26 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown to lead Connecticut (1-1), which rallied from a three-touchdown deficit to take the lead. Wide receiver Noel Thomas made 11 receptions for 116 yards and a score for the Huskies, who are now 1-8 all-time versus the Mids.

“We tip our hat to Coach Diaco and have to give Uconn a lot of credit,” Niumatalolo said. “We let our foot off the pedal and they came fighting back.”

Connecticut was forced to punt on three straight possessions to start the game and that enabled Navy to build a 21-0 lead.

Worth showed his capability quickly, leading the Midshipmen on an impressive 10-play, 96-yard touchdown drive. He tossed a bomb to wide receiver Jamir Tillman for a 47-yard gain on third-and-five from the Navy 20-yard line. Moments later, Worth converted another third-and-five situation with an 8-yard run that set up a 2-yard touchdown trot by High.

Worth completed another long pass on Navy’s second possession, finding slotbck Calvin Cass Jr. streaking down the middle of the field wide open. Cass had to stop and wait for the ball and that prevented a touchdown, but the 40-yard gain put the Mids at the visitors’ 34-yard line.

A 15-yard penalty for a chop block set the Midshipmen back, but High broke loose for a 26-yard run that set up a 1-yard plunge by Worth that made it 14-0 at the 10:35 mark of the second period.

Connecticut seemed to get a big lift by stopping Navy on fourth-and-1 from the 1-yard line.

Any momentum change was nullified on the next play from scrimmage as Shirreffs was stripped of the ball while fighting to get off his own goal-line. Navy cornerback Alohi Gilman ripped the ball out of Sherriffs' hands and trotted into the end zone while every other player on the field was focused on the pile.

Connecticut fumbled on the ensuing kickoff as returner Tyraiq Beals simply dropped the ball while being tackled. Navy went nowhere and had to settle for a 32-yard field goal attempt by Moehring, which barely cleared the line of scrimmage and was easily blocked by 6-foot-4 Cameron Stapleton.

The Huskies then drove 80 yards on 10 plays to finally get on the board. Sherriffs fired a rifle to Noel Thomas on a short slant route and cornerback Tyris Wooten whiffed on the tackle, allowing the wide receiver to waltz into the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown.

Navy went three-and-out on the opening possession of the second half and Alex Barta shanked a 26-yard punt out of bounds, setting Connecticut up with great field position. The Huskies took advantage, moving 40 yards for a touchdown that cut the deficit to 21-14.

Connecticut fooled Navy on fourth-and-four, sending out the field goal unit minus the kicker. Holder Tyler Davis then lined up in shotgun formation and tossed a 25-yard pass to fellow tight end Alec Bloom. Tailback Ron Johnson scored from three yards out on the next play, bowling over safety Daiquan Thomasson in the process.

Navy appeared poised to respond, marching all the way to the Connecticut 6-yard line. However, High fumbled after being stood up by defensive tackle Mikal Myers. Cornerback Jamar Summers scooped up the loose pigskin and raced 86 yards for a touchdown that tied the score at 21.

Harris boomed a high punt that his gunners downed at the 9-yard line, but the Huskies quickly got off its own goal line by catching the Mids with a play-action pass. Safety Sean Williams got caught looking into the backfield and wide receiver Hergy Mayala ran right past him and hauled in a 41-yard pass from Sherriffs. That would lead to a 38-yard field goal by Bobby Puyol that gave the visitors a 24-21 lead.

“The players battled and fought and they were all over, defensively speaking, the triple option,” Diaco said. “There were a couple big pass plays early that set up scores, but without those passes it might not have been that exciting.”